Sands accuse Exec of stealing company secrets

Steven Jacobs – does he have dirty secrets on his previous company?

A legal battle between Las Vegas Sands Corp. and the fired former chief executive of the Sands Corp Macau properties is bringing allegations of the theft of confidential company documents that might contain trade secrets and development information.

Court documents filed Tuesday say that Steven Jacobs stole and refused to return sensitive company materials.

Clark County District Court Judge Elizabeth Gonzalez has scheduled an Oct. 18 hearing on a request by company lawyers to order Jacobs to return the materials. The Trial is scheduled for next June in Las Vegas.

“Jacobs was privy to a host of sensitive LVSC company information that, if revealed, could and would harm LVSC’s business and gaming operations,” the company said in court filings.

Jacobs oversaw the company’s three casinos in Macau for more than a year before he was fired last summer. He has filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against the company and owner Sheldon Adelson.

Jacobs claims Adelson wanted him to use “improper leverage” against unnamed senior Macau government officials to help the company secure rights to sell apartments at its Four Seasons Macau. Jacobs also claims Adelson wanted him to employ a Macau attorney who held a government position.

Las Vegas attorney James Pisanelli is expected to represent the Jacobs lawsuit.

Pisanelli was on the legal team that won a $43.8 million verdict in a civil lawsuit against Las Vegas Sands by Hong Kong businessman Richard Suen in 2008. Suen claimed he helped the company win its Macau casino license.